From: "brian@yahoo.com" 
Newsgroups: rec.crafts.brewing misc.consumers.house alt.home.repair
Subject: Re: Hoisting a Keg using Garage Ceiling
Date: 5 Sep 2006 11:36:23 -0700
   posting-account=vIT1kQ0AAAC9TJqqdF3jIGnfjUCuLbTG

160 is generally not a lotof weight, but then add to it the weight of
the chain and block and tackle, etc and you're over 200 maybe going
toward 250.  The only concern I would have is that being a truss roof
it is engineered to support a load from the top, not necessarily from
the bottom.  A truss is one of those things where whole is stronger
than the the sum of the parts.  I would suggest trying to put the
support beam above the ceiling joists and to have the support beam span
as many beams as you can (at least 2-3 on each side).  This will spread
the load more evenly among the beams.  I also suggest you use a doube
2x4 or double 2x6 with boards on edge as your support as the wood is
much stronger on edge than flat.  Its probably over-engineering, but
even a little flex will crack your sheetrock on the ceiling.

John 'Shaggy' Kolesar wrote:
> On 5 Sep 2006 11:08:31 -0700,  wrote:
> > To save my back when lifting half barrels on and off my pickup truck I
> > am trying to rig a hoist.  I am planning to run a 2x6 across several
> > joists attached via lag bolts in my garage with a heavy duty eye hook
> > in the center.  I will then use a 500lb capacity chain hoist connected
> > to the 2x6, connected to a custom bracket that fits between the handles
> > on the keg.  The keg will only be suspended by the hook for a couple
> > minutes at most to give time to either pull the truck out when
> > unloading a keg, or pull the truck underneath the keg when loading.
> > In both cases it will be cranked up just enough to hover a couple
> > inches above the truck bed and then be lowered to the floor.  The full
> > weight of a full 1/2 barrel is about 160lbs.
> >
> > Does anyone see any reason to be concerned with the structure of the
> > home?  The joists are the bottom of trusses in the attic that support
> > the roof.
>
> I don't know, but I'm not a structural engineer.  However, have you thought
> about using an engine hoist?  They're designed to handle much more weight
> than just a keg, and are not that expensive.  The only question would be
> whether the engine hoist would be able to lift the keg high enough to
> get it in the back of your truck.
> 
> 
> John.